MX Fact Bubbles - Chemical Structures
HIGH-SPEED COLLECTIONS
This chemical structure was collected on MX1 in just ONE SECOND. High-speed detectors and carefully optimised conditions mean data can be collected faster than ever.
(Price et al.)
Visual: A ball-and-stick/space-filling molecular model in grey and yellow-green, labelled [Ru(II)(2,2'-bipyridine)3](PF6)2 underneath.
This chemical structure was collected on MX1 in just ONE SECOND. High-speed detectors and carefully optimised conditions mean data can be collected faster than ever.
(Price et al.)
Visual: A ball-and-stick/space-filling molecular model in grey and yellow-green, labelled [Ru(II)(2,2'-bipyridine)3](PF6)2 underneath.
FLEXIBLE CRYSTALS
Some chemical crystals can bend without breaking! Co-crystals of caffeine, 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid and methanol were analysed on MX2, helping to determine the mechanism of their flexibility.
(Thompson et al. Nat. Commun. 2021)
Visual: A photo of a thin, visibly bent grey crystal rod at the top, above two molecular stick-diagrams (labelled with angle θ and distance d) showing "Inside" and "Outside" arrangements of the crystal's molecular packing.
Some chemical crystals can bend without breaking! Co-crystals of caffeine, 4-chloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid and methanol were analysed on MX2, helping to determine the mechanism of their flexibility.
(Thompson et al. Nat. Commun. 2021)
Visual: A photo of a thin, visibly bent grey crystal rod at the top, above two molecular stick-diagrams (labelled with angle θ and distance d) showing "Inside" and "Outside" arrangements of the crystal's molecular packing.
MINERALS CLOSE TO HOME
When mysterious blue crystals were found in MX1's cooling pipes, it made sense to use MX1 to find out what they were! The crystals were posnjakite, a copper-containing mineral, formed thanks to corrosion in the copper pipes.
(Mills et al. Acta Crystallogr. E 2020)
Visual: A black stick-and-ball crystal lattice diagram on the left, next to a photo of a corroded copper pipe interior showing bright blue-green crystalline deposits.
When mysterious blue crystals were found in MX1's cooling pipes, it made sense to use MX1 to find out what they were! The crystals were posnjakite, a copper-containing mineral, formed thanks to corrosion in the copper pipes.
(Mills et al. Acta Crystallogr. E 2020)
Visual: A black stick-and-ball crystal lattice diagram on the left, next to a photo of a corroded copper pipe interior showing bright blue-green crystalline deposits.
HYDROGEN STORAGE
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous and can adsorb other molecules. Structures of MOFs can help to design storage solutions for liquid hydrogen, a potential future energy source.
(Macreadie et al. Angew. Chem. 2020)
Visual: A photo of liquid/frost being poured from a metal container on the left, next to a 3D molecular cage structure (blue, orange, grey, red) with a white sphere shown enclosed inside the cage, representing the storage volume.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous and can adsorb other molecules. Structures of MOFs can help to design storage solutions for liquid hydrogen, a potential future energy source.
(Macreadie et al. Angew. Chem. 2020)
Visual: A photo of liquid/frost being poured from a metal container on the left, next to a 3D molecular cage structure (blue, orange, grey, red) with a white sphere shown enclosed inside the cage, representing the storage volume.
SENSING EXPLOSIVES
Some metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be used to detect different classes of chemicals. Structures of these MOFs can lead to fluorescent sensors for pollutants and even explosives, helping to clean up the environment.
(Hu et al. J. Hazard. Mater. 2021)
Visual: A photo of a glowing orange/red fluorescent tube held under UV/blacklight against a dark purple background, next to a black-and-red diagram labelled "2D Helical Zn(II)-hfipbb²⁻ Sheets" showing an interlocking diamond lattice pattern.
Some metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be used to detect different classes of chemicals. Structures of these MOFs can lead to fluorescent sensors for pollutants and even explosives, helping to clean up the environment.
(Hu et al. J. Hazard. Mater. 2021)
Visual: A photo of a glowing orange/red fluorescent tube held under UV/blacklight against a dark purple background, next to a black-and-red diagram labelled "2D Helical Zn(II)-hfipbb²⁻ Sheets" showing an interlocking diamond lattice pattern.
CRYSTALS UNDER PRESSURE
Diamond Anvil Cells (DACs) can create super high-pressure environments; even more than the pressures of the deepest parts of the ocean. DACs can be used on the MX beamlines to collect data at extreme pressures.
(Boer et al.)
Visual: A labelled technical line diagram of a diamond anvil cell (parts labelled: Backing disc, Diamond, Gasket, Ruby, Culet, Crystal, Passage of X-rays), next to a photo of the actual metal device mounted in a beamline setup.
Diamond Anvil Cells (DACs) can create super high-pressure environments; even more than the pressures of the deepest parts of the ocean. DACs can be used on the MX beamlines to collect data at extreme pressures.
(Boer et al.)
Visual: A labelled technical line diagram of a diamond anvil cell (parts labelled: Backing disc, Diamond, Gasket, Ruby, Culet, Crystal, Passage of X-rays), next to a photo of the actual metal device mounted in a beamline setup.